Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest elevation angle above the horizon for the day. It marks the transition from morning to afternoon in astronomical terms. At solar noon, the sun is due south (in the northern hemisphere) or due north (in the southern hemisphere).

Why is solar noon not at 12:00?

Solar noon differs from clock noon for two reasons: timezone boundaries (a single timezone can span 15 or more degrees of longitude) and the equation of time (Earth's elliptical orbit causes small variations in solar day length throughout the year).

Is solar noon the hottest time of day?

No. Solar noon is when the sun is most intense, but the hottest part of the day is typically 2 to 3 hours later. This lag occurs because Earth continues warming after solar noon until heat loss exceeds solar gain.

Solar Noon: Complete Guide

Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky for the day. At solar noon, shadows are at their shortest and the sun is at its most intense. Despite what the name suggests, solar noon rarely occurs at 12:00 clock time, due to timezone boundaries and the equation of time.

City Comparison: Today's Times

City	Country	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Solar Noon
Delhi	India	05:52	18:50	12h 58m	12:21
Chongqing	China	06:22	19:22	13h 00m	12:52
Shanghai	China	05:22	18:26	13h 04m	11:54
Dhaka	Bangladesh	05:34	18:22	12h 48m	11:58
Mexico City	Mexico	06:16	18:56	12h 40m	12:36
Beijing	China	05:31	18:57	13h 26m	12:14
Cairo	Egypt	05:24	18:25	13h 02m	11:55
Mumbai	India	06:18	18:58	12h 39m	12:38
Guangzhou	China	06:03	18:50	12h 47m	12:27
Karachi	Pakistan	06:06	18:57	12h 50m	12:32
Istanbul	Turkey	06:19	19:49	13h 30m	13:04
Lagos	Nigeria	06:37	18:55	12h 17m	12:46

Frequently Asked Questions

What is solar noon?: Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest elevation angle above the horizon for the day. It marks the transition from morning to afternoon in astronomical terms. At solar noon, the sun is due south (in the northern hemisphere) or due north (in the southern hemisphere).
Why is solar noon not at 12:00?: Solar noon differs from clock noon for two reasons: timezone boundaries (a single timezone can span 15 or more degrees of longitude) and the equation of time (Earth's elliptical orbit causes small variations in solar day length throughout the year).
Is solar noon the hottest time of day?: No. Solar noon is when the sun is most intense, but the hottest part of the day is typically 2 to 3 hours later. This lag occurs because Earth continues warming after solar noon until heat loss exceeds solar gain.

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